Blue Origin rocket explodes on launchpad during ground test
Jeff Bezos' rocket maker suffered a setback on Thursday as its New Glenn rocket went up in flames.
Innovent Biologics shares rise 10% after pact with Pfizer of up to $10.5 billion
Innovent Biologics rose as much as 10%, after entering a strategic global licensing and collaboration agreement with Pfizer to develop oncology medicines.
Asia markets rise as investors weigh Iran military activity against signs of temporary U.S.-Iran deal
Asia-Pacific markets rose as investors shrugged off renewed Iran tensions against ceasefire optimism.
LG Electronics' shares surge 24% after showing automotive innovations using Google tech
Shares of LG Electronics surged after it unveiled automotive innovations using Google technology.
Samsung's shares surge as much as 6% after company ships next-generation AI memory chip samples
Shares of Samsung Electronics surged after the company began shipping HBM4E chip samples to its customers globally.
Asia’s rich fear losing the family fortune — but many still have no succession plans, survey shows
Asia's wealthy families want to preserve their fortunes across generations, but many still lack basic succession plans, according to a new Lombard Odier survey.
Michael Dell courted Trump early. His company has reaped rewards
The dynamic is emblematic of how business is seeking to sow favor with the president in his second term, and has departed from the norms of big business philanthropy.
CNBC Daily Open: Tech earnings defy Iran strikes and inflation concerns
Global markets rally on the strength of tech and AI despite continued uncertainty in Middle East.
Humanoid robots 'the future' of car making, says BMW
BMW is introducing humanoid robots to a car plant in Europe, building on similar projects in the US.
When trade soured, this American liquor maker moved to Canada
Phillips Distilling lost 70% of its Canadian business after provinces banned the sale of US liquor. It has since found a way to sell its products in Canada again.
Okta jumps 8%, tops first-quarter results on agentic AI demand
CEO Todd McKinnon said Okta is "playing a long game" on AI and is allocating more resources to agentic tools.
Anthropic tops OpenAI as most valuable AI startup, nears $1 trillion valuation in latest round
Anthropic is now the most valuable AI company in Silicon Valley after a new $65 billion funding round.
Iran reportedly launches missiles as Trump mulls deal to pause war for two months
The latest military and economic actions come as President Trump insists he feels no pressure to make a deal with Iran before November's midterm elections.
CFTC sues Rhode Island over actions against prediction markets
It marks the seventh state the commission has sued in a dispute over who has the right to regulate event contract platforms.
Can Trump's negotiation playbook solve the Iran war? – video
The Guardian's Oliver Holmes looks at how Donald Trump's book The Art of the Deal could shed light on the president's negotiation tactics in the war with Iran Continue reading...
Labour poised for fresh welfare changes after scale of youth jobs crisis revealed
Alan Milburn’s landmark report says unemployment among young costs UK £125bn a year and warns of ‘lost generation’ ‘A record of failure’: what’s in first part of Milburn report?Tell us: we would like to hear from young people in the UK about their job hunting experienceLabour is poised for a fresh attempt at changing the welfare system after a major government-backed report said youth unemployment was costing Britain more than £125bn a year.As official figures revealed the number of young people not working or studying had surpassed a million for the first time in more than a decade, Alan Milburn said the government had a responsibility to the next generation to take action. Continue reading...
California Attorney General sues 23andMe successor for 2023 data breach
Attorney General Rob Bonta alleges the company lied about the breach's severity.
US government prepares to print $250 note featuring Trump's face
Federal law bars printing images of living people on US currency, but Trump allies in Congress are moving to make an exception.
Enfield council withdraws from government’s new towns programme
London authority’s new Tory-led administration delivers significant blow to Labour’s flagship housebuilding schemeEnfield council in north London has withdrawn from the government’s new towns programme, in a significant blow to Labour’s flagship housebuilding scheme.The move by the new minority Conservative-led administration could present one of the first tests of Rachel Reeves’s planning changes, designed to curb the use of judicial reviews against new infrastructure. Continue reading...
The Guardian view on jobs and training: boosting young people’s chances should be a national mission | Editorial
Colleges and placements can help the 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds who aren’t earning or learning. But what they need most is workFor a few days at least, political attention is focused on young people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment or training (known as Neets). A report from the commission led by Alan Milburn, a former health secretary, shines a bright light on a group that needs it. The document concentrates on analysis, with recommendations due in the autumn. Describing problems is generally easier than solving them.The latest figures record more than 1 million Neets – one in eight of their age group; 60% are economically inactive, meaning that they are not looking for work. The report warns that there will soon be more unless action is taken. It points out that this issue is too often approached from the wrong direction. Political attacks on welfare spending and mean-spirited criticisms of “kids these days” are a distraction from the facts about unemployment, rising ill health and inadequate training. The UK’s poor track record compared with other countries proves that this is a policy failure.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
The Guardian view on energy shocks: winter is coming – and Labour needs a plan | Editorial
Clean power remains essential. But until it arrives, Britain must stop LNG made scarce by the Iran war setting gas and electricity prices The US-Israel war on Iran will drive household energy costs in Britain to their highest level in two years over the summer. This has given fresh impetus to calls for the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, to change course. The cabinet minister is vulnerable because he promised cheaper bills if Britain embraced his clean, green power plan.Critics, including Labour’s former prime minister Sir Tony Blair, are circling. Yet Mr Miliband ought to ignore the naysayers. Until global carbon emissions, including Britain’s, are reduced to net zero, the planet will continue to fry and temperature records will continue to be broken.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
Carney calls for new US-Canada partnership to ‘help make America great again’
Canada prime minister urges greater economic cooperation between the two countries in speech delivered in New YorkCanada’s prime minister, Mark Carney has called for a new relationship with the United States to “help make America great again”.In a speech delivered in New York on Thursday, Carney said that there should be a “true partnership” that reimagines cooperation in specific sectors challenged by global competition. Continue reading...
UK recall alert issued for car seat base that poses risk of injuries to children
Office for Product Safety and Standards advises stopping use of Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix Slide Pro bases immediatelyA baby car seat product that poses a risk of injuries to children because of a malfunctioning safety indicator has been recalled by its manufacturer.Maxi-Cosi is recalling all of its FamilyFix Slide Pro bases from buyers, information on the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) website showed. Continue reading...
Unfair childcare eligibility criteria and the ‘nerd tax’ | Letters
Jamie Evans questions the exclusion that means his family will not be able to claim £8,000 of support while his wife is a PhD studentThe education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is right to order a Competition and Markets Authority review of hidden childcare charges (Report, 24 May). However, she would do well to also review her department’s own eligibility criteria for accessing 30 hours of funded childcare in the first place. One particularly egregious exclusion is that of PhD students, who miss out on approximately £8,000 of support that the majority of other working parents can access, despite earning only about £20,000 per year (if on a typical UK Research and Innovation-funded course).This is the situation that will affect my wife and I from February next year, when our soon-to-be-born daughter will turn nine months old and my wife will need to return to the completion of her PhD (improving patient experiences of GP services). Continue reading...
‘They’re a private company, run for profit!’: fury in Kent at South East Water’s outages
Water company blames increased demand in extreme heat, but customers want answers about lack of storage reservoirs“Spitting, fuming, angry and powerless” is how Pat Prestage describes her emotions after a water outage that has affected thousands of homes in Kent during the heatwave.On Wednesday, 8,000 South East Water customers in Whitstable lost water, with 14,000 more in Tankerton, Ashford, and its surrounding areas facing an intermittent supply or low pressure. South East Water’s incident manager, Matthew Dean, said on Thursday that 22,000 people had had water supply problems. Continue reading...
'Lost generation’: why can’t young people get jobs? – The Latest
A landmark government-backed report has warned that the UK risks a ‘lost generation’ of young people, as new figures show that more than 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK were not in education, employment or training.The former Labour cabinet minister Alan Milburn said youth disengagement was a mounting economic risk to the country, and urged a fundamental reset of policy covering schools, the health service and the welfare state. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s senior economics correspondent, Richard Partington Continue reading...
Alan Milburn is right, a young generation has been betrayed. Forget Tony Blair: we must attend to this | Polly Toynbee
The new and excoriating account of the dire prospects for UK young people is a call to action. It could be the Beveridge report for our time The diagnosis is dire. Alan Milburn has published the first part of his forensic report on the lives and chances of young people, their fate after leaving school or college, the inadequacy of their health, education and pastoral care, and the reluctance of employers to hire them. This is a “moral crisis”, he says. There are now more than a million young people not in work, education or training (Neets), and Milburn expects that number to rise to 1.25 million without radical change. The government needs a “big idea”, he tells me. This should be it, “the spine, the purpose”.Perhaps he was expected only to solve the particular problem of left-behind and lost Neets. What he has delivered instead is an excoriating overview of how badly this young generation is treated altogether. A sense of shock reverberates through every well-written page. Why have children and young people had such a low priority in resources and political concern, especially since 2010? There has been institutional neglect, loss of youth and careers services, chaotic non-communication or data exchange between dislocated silos, small schemes coming and going. Milburn describes a catastrophic failure: it needs a whole “system reset” and no more “tinkering”. Continue reading...
EU to discuss potential restrictions on Chinese imports amid fears of overreliance
Concerns among commissioners in bloc that surge in imports could lead to decline similar to that of US rust belt townsEU commissioners will meet on Friday for crunch talks aimed at imposing new restrictions on imports from China amid growing concern that Beijing is fuelling conditions for US-style rust belt towns in Europe.The surge in imports of everything from electric cars to key components in machines, medical devices and foodstuffs has been dubbed China Shock 2.0, potentially mirroring the experience in the US 25 years ago when Beijing joined the World Trade Organization. Continue reading...
Drag queen Pattie Gonia fights trademark lawsuit by Patagonia
The outdoor apparel firm says the performer broke an agreement not to use its branding in merchandise.
'I've applied for more than 400 roles' - how young people are facing the job shortage
The BBC has been hearing from young people who are struggling to find work about how they are tackling the challenge.
Burberry boss could earn up to £12.2m under new bonus scheme as company rolls back climate goals
Company, which paid boss Joshua Schulman £4m in year to March, becomes latest to extend deadline to become carbon neutralBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of Burberry could earn up to £12.2m after the luxury British brand introduced a new bonus scheme, while its annual report also revealed the company has scaled back its climate ambitions.Joshua Schulman, a former chief executive of the US fashion brand Coach who was hired in July 2024 to help revive Burberry, was paid £4m in the year to March, up from £2.5m for his first nine months in the job. Continue reading...
Core inflation hit an annual rate of 3.3% in April, as expected, Fed’s preferred gauge shows
The PCE price index for April was expected to show an annual inflation rate of 3.8% for all items and 3.3% for core.
Tony Blair and the battle for Labour’s soul
Peter Walker is joined by pollster Luke Tryl of More in Common to discuss Sir Tony Blair’s intervention in the Labour leadership saga and the party’s prospects in the Makerfield byelectionPlease send your questions and messages for Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com Continue reading...
Opportunities shrinking for too many young people, says major report on 'lost generation'
A report warns the number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work, education or training is set to rise to 1.25 million by 2031.
So dumb it just might work: can these dumbphone evangelists convince you to dump smartphones?
As part of a growing anti-tech movement, startup dumb.co is pushing flip phones as a way for young people to find ‘social and spiritual freedom’“They aren’t as dumb as they look,” our facilitator said, referring to the dark gray flip phone in his hand. He just as easily could have been talking about us, the 28 New York residents before him who had signed up to use the device for the entire month of March. He explained that the relic was loaded with WhatsApp, iMessage, Google Maps, Uber, Microsoft 2FA – nothing like my seventh-grade flip phone.We each had paid $75 to participate in Month Offline, or MO, a program that challenged us to swear off our smartphones entirely. Another $25 went to dumb.co, the company behind MO, for the so-called dumbphones we would use as we navigated daily life. Continue reading...
EU fines Temu €200m for allowing sale of illegal products
The European Commission says the Chinese-owned online retailer failed to take account of risks from baby toys and faulty chargers sold on its platform.
This AI stock is surging after an ex-OpenAI employee's fund disclosed a stake. Here's why
Dutch cloud provider Nebius rose after an ex-OpenAI employee's fund took a sizeable stake in the firm.
Oil prices fall after report of breakthrough in US-Iran talks
A report of a extended ceasefire, subject to Donald Trump's approval, has led to global oil prices to fall on Thursday.
CVS to restore coverage of Zepbound, add Eli Lilly's obesity pill to drug plans
CVS will add Zepbound coverage on Oct. 1, and start covering Lilly's newly approved Foundayo pill on June 1.
Middle East tensions rattle Asia markets after fresh U.S. strikes in Iran
Asia-Pacific markets fell Thursday while oil prices surged after fresh U.S. strikes in Iran heightened fears of a wider Middle East conflict.
Kuwait air defenses activated against 'missile and drone threats'; U.S. carries out new strikes in Iran
This comes as tensions in the Middle East escalated once again, with the U.S. military carrying out new strikes overnight in Iran.
Ferrari CEO defends $640,000 price tag for its first fully electric car
Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna on Thursday said the cost of the manufacturer's new Luce model was a fair price to pay for innovation.
‘Hidden datacentre tax’ costing Irish households millions, report says
Datacentres used 22% of country’s electricity last year, pushing up household bills, study suggestsEnergy demand by datacentres in Ireland has added hundreds of euros to household electricity bills in a pattern that could be replicated across Europe, according to a report.Ireland’s growing number of datacentres last year used 22% of the country’s electricity, more than all urban homes combined, according to the Central Statistics Office. The equivalent figure in the US and UK is 6%. Continue reading...
Blair’s fossil fuel ideas ‘bizarre’ in face of energy and climate crises, experts say
Energy specialists say abandoning net zero and increasing oil and gas drilling would cause more instability for BritonsUK politics live – latest updatesAbandoning net zero and drilling for more oil and gas in the North Sea would be a massive setback for the UK and would not help the economy, leading experts have said in response to claims by the former prime minister Tony Blair.“This is a bizarre intervention to make during the worst May heatwave on record and when the Iran crisis is providing yet more evidence of the enormous costs of oil and gas,” said Ed Matthew, the UK programme director at the E3G thinktank. “Clean energy is cheaper energy – it protects our bills from prices skyrocketing, its running costs are virtually zero, and it doesn’t cause climate change which threatens economic collapse ... The government should ignore Blair’s ideological nonsense and focus on what works.” Continue reading...
Ministers in talks over shelving carbon tax on fertiliser to curb UK food inflation
Exclusive: Package of measures discussed with farmers, including pause on duty due to come into effect next year Ministers are in discussions about suspending a carbon tax on fertilisers, due to come into effect early next year, in an effort to curb food inflation.The move would be part of a package of measures, including the suspension of import tariffs on a range of foods including bread, biscuits and bananas. Continue reading...
EU fines Temu for failing to stop sale of illegal and dangerous products
European Commission finds shoppers on Chinese website very likely to find unsafe items and imposes €200m penaltyEU regulators have fined the Chinese shopping website Temu €200m (£173m) for failing to stop the sale of illegal and dangerous products.The European Commission imposed the penalty after a 19-month investigation that found consumers were very likely to encounter illegal or unsafe products including baby toys and electronics on the firm’s website. Continue reading...
Oura launches Ring 5, world’s smallest smart ring, as it heads towards IPO
Finnish-US startup has sold 5.5m rings worldwide since it was founded in 2013 and is valued at $11bnStylish Finnish-American smart ring company Oura may be the darling of wearables, adorning the fingers of celebrities and sportspeople, but it is not resting on its laurels as it heads towards an IPO later this year. This week it launched the world’s smallest smart ring, the Ring 5, its latest evolution of the device that defined a whole category.The Ring 5 is 40% smaller and with longer battery life than the highly popular Ring 4. It also promises to squeeze the health-tracking features of a smartwatch into a less techy piece of jewellery just 2.28mm thick, focused on sleep, stress, readiness and heart health. Continue reading...
The race for oil: will Jamaica be the next country to drill and what does that mean for its green pledges?
With early tests suggesting the presence of crude oil, the Caribbean island has begun to debate whether it could justify becoming a producerJamaica is closer than ever to drilling for oil. Tests on samples from the seabed off the Caribbean island’s south coast earlier this year identified hydrocarbons, which suggest the presence of crude oil below ground.Jamaica imports all its fuel, which costs about $1.5-2bn (£1.1bn-1.5bn) annually, depending on global oil prices. It is a persistent drag on an economy that generated $4.3bn from tourism, its biggest earner, in 2024. Continue reading...
‘Saaz is our gold’: the Czech scientists breeding hops that can survive a hotter Europe
Researchers are working to create new drought-resistant varieties of the ingredient that gives Czech pilsner its characterIt is the country that drinks more beer per capita than any other but in the last few years Czechia has been hit by droughts and heatwaves, which make it harder to grow the Saaz hops, one of the key ingredients that goes into the country’s world famous beer.At the Hop Research Institute, however, scientists are working to create new, climate-resilient hop varieties that have shown promise in overcoming Czechia’s heat and its strict traditionalism. Continue reading...
Google employee charged with using insider data to rig bets on Polymarket
US DoJ alleges software engineer Michele Spagnuolo, 36, earned $1.2m betting on Google’s most-searched listSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The US justice department has charged a Google software engineer with using insider information to rig bets tied to Google’s most-searched list on the prediction market Polymarket, earning $1.2m in profits, according to a complaint unsealed on Wednesday.Michele Spagnuolo, a 36-year-old Italian citizen, allegedly used insider information to bet on long-shot candidates and reap immense financial gain. His arrest comes one month after prosecutors charged a US army soldier with using classified information to place Polymarket bets about military action in Venezuela. Continue reading...
BP boardroom turmoil deepens as ousted chair hits back at ‘lies’ over conduct
Albert Manifold disputes reports about his behaviour and says he always tried to set exampleThe boardroom turmoil at BP deepened after its ousted chair, Albert Manifold, claimed allegations about his conduct were “lies”.In a new and lengthy statement, Manifold disputed reports about his conduct, saying: “At no point in my tenure as chairman of BP has anyone raised with me any issue about my conduct or my relationship with my colleagues.” Continue reading...
Feeding the future of France: Rollout of €1 meals an attempt to help struggling students
It’s a thumbs up from the country’s 3 million students, who can now buy cheap meals up to twice a dayWhere in France can you get a nutritious and balanced three-course meal for €1?If you are one of the country’s estimated 3 million students in higher education, the answer is: the university restaurant or cafe. Continue reading...
‘It’s like Dunkirk for the construction industry!’ The small team rescuing London’s precious building materials
Joel de Mowbray’s salvage scheme began as a small milk float converted into a logging vehicle – now he’s part of Tipping Point East, a massive site designed to divert valuable waste materials to builders that need itJoel de Mowbray reached breaking point with UK construction in south London in 2020. He was working on a lovely building project, part of Lambeth council’s scheme to make streets more pedestrian-friendly. De Mowbray was installing a public wooden seating area in an underused stretch of street.“The council were doing treeworks the entire time we were building, felling trees right next to us,” he says. “But we had to go to Ashdown Forest for our supplies. That felt bonkers to me: they were creating the exact material we needed next to our site.” Continue reading...
Ousted BP chairman hits back at 'lies' about his behaviour
Albert Manifold said no-one should be "allowed to hide behind anonymity" when commenting on his time at BP.
Young first-time buyers face toughest time since financial crisis, says UK housebuilder
Barratt Redrow boss says rising interest rates, higher student debt and squeeze on wages hitting property dreamBusiness live – latest updatesThe boss of Britain’s largest housebuilder has said it is the most challenging time to be a first-time buyer since the financial crisis, as the dream of home ownership moves increasingly out of reach for many young people.A combination of rising interest rates, higher levels of student debt and the squeeze on wages is making it “challenging, very, very difficult” for young people to get on the housing ladder, according to David Thomas, the departing chief executive of Barratt Redrow. Continue reading...
‘A record of failure’: what’s in the first part of Alan Milburn’s Neet report?
The former minister paints damning picture of structural issues affecting 1 million young people in the UKAlan Milburn, the Blair-era cabinet minister turned social mobility adviser, has delivered the first part of his government-commissioned report on why increasing numbers of people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training (Neet).Its 217 pages cover the extent and causes of the issue – with possible solutions coming in his next report – and set out a hugely detailed and damning picture of what Milburn calls a “record of failure”, one that is letting down young people. These are some of its main points. Continue reading...
‘Instagram truly is the new LinkedIn’: why gen Z is using social media to get hired
In this competitive market, gen Z has started to turn to untraditional ways to land a job – including dating appsSibusisiwe Khupe, 26, entered the job market once again in September after a wave of unexpected layoffs at London marketing agency Wieden+Kennedy.She knew landing her next full-time role was not going to be easy. Young workers have been hit hard by the weakening UK job market as vacancies fall and unemployment climbs to a five-year high. Continue reading...
LG Energy Solution's shares surge as much as 16% after landing major U.S. battery storage deal
The deal comes as the South Korean battery company expands its energy storage systems business in the U.S.
Nio shares jump 10% after releasing first flagship EV in more than two years
Chinese electric car company Nio has launched two lower-priced brands in the last two years to broaden its customer base in a sluggish Chinese consumer market.
Mistral to explore designing own chips, CEO says, as it ramps up infrastructure build
Mistral's semiconductor ambitions underscore the French startup's bid to control more of its infrastructure as it competes with OpenAI and Anthropic.
Ousted BP chair Albert Manifold rejects ‘lies’ over his conduct
BP's board on Tuesday announced the removal of Manifold due to "serious concerns" relating to governance standards, oversight and conduct.
'King of Cashmere' CEO on outperforming the luxury slowdown: Don't be greedy
Brunello Cucinelli's success is tied to its ethos of choosing long-term integrity over short-term margin chasing, CEO Riccardo Stefanelli told CNBC.
The £5 coffee that tells a story of global economic turmoil
Coffees at some city centre outlets now cost £5. It's a story of tariffs, the climate, Gen Z cultural tastes, and savvy coffee farmers playing the market, writes Faisal Islam
Energy inflation has been more persistent than expected, Fed's Goolsbee tells CNBC
While oil prices have recently fallen on news that a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran could come, prices are still significantly higher than before the war.
Fed’s Kashkari tells CNBC that inflation fight takes priority as labor market is 'in decent shape'
The Minneapolis Fed President warned that persistently high inflation risks becoming embedded in consumer expectations, potentially forcing tougher policy action later.
CNBC Daily Open: Hostilities heat up, market rally cools
Stocks in Asia sink and oil prices rally as the U.S. and Iran trade fresh strikes and intercept drone attacks.
Silver could fall further after latest slump, analysts say as they warn of demand destruction
Silver's rally of over 140% last year is deterring buyers in various industries and its elevated price levels are beginning to weigh on demand, UBS said.
To reverse the ‘greenlash’, Europe’s Green parties should embrace Polanski’s boldness | Tarik Abou-Chadi
Be more strident and ambitious, take on economic inequality, and progressive voters will reward you as they have the UK’s GreensTarik Abou-Chadi is a professor of European politics at the University of OxfordEuropean Green parties have been through a phase of stagnation and crisis in recent years. Long gone seem the days of the “green wave” across Europe. Back in 2019, Green parties secured their best-ever result in the European parliament elections, with 74 seats. In the same year, Green parties also scored record results in Switzerland, Belgium and Austria. Shortly after, they were part of governing coalitions in Finland, Germany, Ireland and Austria.But more recently, there has been much discussion of a “greenlash”: a backlash against climate policies and other green projects throughout Europe. Across the continent, Green parties dropped out of nearly all government coalitions, and these parties’ recent election results have often failed to meet expectations. With apparently declining enthusiasm for the climate movement, and the decreasing salience of climate breakdown at the ballot box, Green parties are debating how to turn their fortunes around.Tarik Abou-Chadi is a professor of European politics at the University of OxfordDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
Are robots nearing their ChatGPT moment? – podcast
Last month at Beijing’s half marathon, a robot named Lightning beat the human world record by nearly seven minutes. It’s the latest in a string of AI-powered milestones that have got people wondering whether robots are about to enter our everyday lives, just as chatbots have. And the country leading the charge is China, where the government has pledged to invest more than £100bn in robotics over the next 20 years. To find out how robots are already entering the workforce, and what needs to happen to get them cleaning our homes and weeding our gardens, Ian Sample hears from the Guardian’s senior China correspondent, Amy Hawkins, and from Nathan Lepora, professor of robotics and AI at Bristol University, who researches how robots can achieve human-like dexterityClips: Global News, BBC, CGTN Continue reading...
‘This isn’t freedom’: anger, anxiety and tears as Iran’s internet flickers back
After 88 days of near-total blackout, first reactions to the return of partial connectivity were not celebratoryAfter 88 days of near-total internet blackout in Iran, long-delayed messages, images and poems flooded phones and social media feeds at about 5pm on Tuesday, when still-limited connectivity flickered back to life.The first reactions, however, were not celebratory. Many new posts were threaded with scepticism, anxiety and anger. Continue reading...
The strange surveilled life of Piper Rockelle: why did a former child influencer decide to go on OnlyFans?
She made millions as a tween and teenager by posting clips of herself and her friends on YouTube. Then the business collapsed amid acrimony. What does her success in the adult industry, at 18, say about surveillance, social media and sexualisation?‘Honestly, the answer is kind of gross,” says Piper Rockelle, in a recent TikTok video, reflecting on why she is so popular on OnlyFans. In the clip, she fidgets her fingers and swings in her swivel chair. “It’s because I look so young. I mean, I am really young. I’m literally like fresh turned 18 … and people kind of like that, unfortunately.”This is an accurate and honest assessment. At the end of last year, not long after turning 18, the former child star and teen influencer began an online countdown, telling her millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram that she would be launching herself on OnlyFans on 1 January. Every day or so since, she has posted pictures of herself on the platform, sometimes posing in a typical teenager’s bedroom – a pink cuddly stuffed pig on the bed behind her, fairy lights on the wall – wearing teddy-bear-themed pants and bras, or fluffy underwear decorated with bunny-rabbit faces and floppy ears. Continue reading...
Australia sues US giant 3M over 'forever chemicals' in firefighting foam
The A$2bn case, which centres on contamination at defence sites, is the largest ever brought by the government.
Google worker charged with using internal data to make $1.2m on bets
The longtime Google employee was charged in New York for allegedly breaking insider trading laws.
Why Fifa is being investigated over World Cup ticket prices
New York and New Jersey are looking into the association after fans have reportedly been "misled" over ticket sales and seat locations.
Inside India newsletter: Iran war disruptions, Modi's appeal to boost India's hospitality sector
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to curb foreign travel is proving to be a boon to the local travel industry.
Is 'out of control' US tipping culture spreading overseas?
With US waiting staff getting cross at receiving less than 20%, tips are also on the rise elsewhere.
Former CIA chief Petraeus says drone swarms are the next danger — and growth opportunity
Unmanned systems will be one of the biggest security threats and structural growth opportunities in defense over the next decade: David Petraeus
The world's carmakers are struggling to compete with China
The BBC visited China’s EV factories and found they are dominating the ecosystems shaping the global auto industry.
After Ferrari Luce backlash, Lamborghini CEO says canceling its own EV was the right choice
Lamborghini CEO said the automaker's decision to kill its EV to focus on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles was "the right way to go" for his company.
The Guardian view on Tony Blair’s advice for Labour: policymaking like it’s 1999 will not lead to a revival | Editorial
A scathing essay by the former prime minister rehashes assumptions that underpinned his own rise to power. But the challenges are quite different nowA paradox lies at the heart of Sir Tony Blair’s latest sermon to a Labour party that he seems actively to dislike these days. The 5,700-word intervention, published on the website of his Institute for Global Change, emphasises the sheer novelty of challenges such as the AI revolution and the rise of insurgent populism in western democracies. Yet the advice he offers is based on assumptions unchanged since he was bashing “old Labour” in the 1990s.In his essay, Sir Tony suggests that Labour’s “infinite capacity for self-delusion” is set to lose it the next election, irrespective of who is leading the party and the country by then. Only if it embodies a “radical centre”, he argues, can the government deliver the rises in growth and productivity that Britain desperately needs. This, it turns out, means rejecting more or less any policy that smacks of progressive ambition and intent.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
Why is Ferrari facing such a backlash to its first electric car?
The Italian marque has broken with the past with its four-door, €550,000 Luce and traditionalists are furiousFerrari is different from other carmakers, and so are its product launches. So revered is the company in its native Italy that among the first people to sit behind the wheel of its first electric vehicle were the country’s president and the pope. Yet judging by the backlash from investors, some critics and – inevitably – a horde of online commenters, the company may need help from a higher power if it is to win over its traditional fanbase.The Luce – pronounced “loo-chey”, Italian for “light” – is priced for the super-wealthy, at €550,000 (£476,000), with an electric motor for each wheel and the ability to get from zero to 100km/h in 2.5 seconds. But the design, led by the former Apple executive Jony Ive in collaboration with Marc Newson, has proven controversial. It is certainly unlike anything Ferrari has made before. Continue reading...
Blair wants to leave our future to the markets. I believe democracy can still shape our lives for the better | Wes Streeting
The inequality caused by technological innovation is not a given. Labour can harness that change to serve society, not dominate itStreeting and Burnham accuse Blair of failing to confront inequality in Labour criticismTony Blair is right about one thing: we are living through a historic rupture. The old certainties of the 20th century are breaking apart under the pressure of technological revolution, geopolitical instability and economic insecurity. AI will transform how we work, learn and govern as profoundly as steam power or electricity reshaped the world before it.Britain needs a seriousness equal to the scale of that challenge – and Labour needs the confidence to shape the future rather than retreat into arguments about the past. The answer to global disruption cannot be a longing for the Britain of the 1970s, nor even the Britain of the 1990s. The task of progressive politics is not to recreate yesterday, but to ensure ordinary working people have power, protection and opportunity in the world now emerging.Wes Streeting is Labour MP for Ilford NorthDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
Why paying £5 for a latte is here to stay
Poor coffee harvests in Brazil and Vietnam are just some of the factors driving up the price of your morning cup of coffee.
How you can save money on your energy bill
Experts say action now can save money when the pinch comes this winter.
Student loans inquiry responses show ‘massive scale of frustration and upset’
More than 52,000 people respond to Commons committee’s call for evidence amid criticism of loan termsThousands of graduates have told an official inquiry their horror stories and bad experiences relating to student loans, underlining what the chair of an MPs’ committee called massive levels of “frustration and upset”.Amid an ongoing row over the ballooning cost of degree course debts, more than 52,000 people responded to a call for evidence by the Commons Treasury select committee as part of its inquiry into student loans and the taxation of graduates. Continue reading...
'I fear for my son's farming future due to costs'
One farmer says his red diesel costs have risen from £27,000 a year to £54,000.
UK heatwave triggers price rises for hot tubs and air conditioning units
Of 11 seasonal items in Guardian price comparison, six hit highest price in last three months, with some nearly doubling in price in last weekThe heatwave has triggered a surge in prices for seasonal items, with the cost of one inflatable hot tub nearly doubling in a week, while an industry expert said air conditioning units had risen by about 17% since April.The Guardian looked at popular items across a range of websites and examined their prices on PriceRunner, an independent price comparison service. One of the biggest price increases was for the Bestway inflatable hot tub Lay-Z-Spa Cancún AirJet, which was available for £160 on 21 May but now retails for a minimum of £299. Continue reading...
Tony Blair is strong on diagnosis, deluded on prescription: Britain’s ills can’t be fixed by him | Larry Elliott
The former PM’s essay rightly calls for a coherent economic plan, but then sets too much store by AI – and a worldview stuck in the pastTony Blair is right. Labour has made some big and avoidable mistakes since it came to power nearly two years ago. Keir Starmer had a strategy for winning the election but lacked a coherent plan for what his government would do next. Fair cop.Blair is also correct when he says that unless Britain tackles some long-term structural issues, it is in danger of being relegated from the “premier league of nations”. Achieving higher levels of sustainable growth is one challenge. Welfare reform is another. And as the former prime minister notes, reversing Brexit is not a solution to those problems.Larry Elliott is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
How a rise in energy bills will affect you from July
Household energy prices will rise by 13% a year in July, as soaring wholesale costs caused by the US-Israel war with Iran hit bills for the first time.
Why it's now harder to get a Saturday job
The boss of Next has warned there has been a "dramatic fall" in the number of entry-level job opportunities in the UK.
Power to the people: how ‘balcony solar’ could help fight rising US utility costs
More Americans are using small solar panels in their back yards or balconies as a clean way to cut their electric billsIf you feel like your electricity bill just keeps climbing, you aren’t imagining it. Since 2020, US residential energy prices have surged by about 30%, making power the largest household energy expense behind gasoline, according to the US Energy Information Administration.But for residents like Alex Curtis, the days of feeling powerless against rising costs are coming to an end. Curtis is waging a war on his electric bill, and his new weapon of choice is a lightweight, thin-film solar panel. Continue reading...
What will the energy cap changes mean for my bills?
Typical annual household bills will rise by 13% when the new energy cap takes effect on 1 July.
'I've given up eating hot meals to pay energy bills to keep my son alive'
More than half of parents of disabled children and young people are skipping meals to pay their bills.
The rise of the fruit that tastes like custard
Custard apple plants are prized for their hardiness but exporting their delicate fruit is difficult.
Energy bills to rise for millions as impact of Iran war hits
A household using a typical amount of energy will pay £221 a year more, under the regulator's new price cap.
'Bullying' and 'overbearing' behaviour behind abrupt BP chairman removal
BP declined to comment on whether bullying behaviour was part of the reason for his immediate dismissal.
Farmers' warning as milk prices fall below cost
Farmers worry more family farms will be sold unless dairy prices rise quickly.
Ferrari shares slump after it unveils first fully electric car
The new Luce model has divided opinion on social media, and comes despite intense pressure from Chinese EV makers.
Booming AI chip demand helps create two new $1tn club members
SK Hynix and Micron are the latest tech firms to join the growing list of stocks with mega valuations.
Champion ethical hacker warns AI tools like Mythos will make competing harder
Chompie, one of the world's tops ethical hackers, says AI like Claude Mythos will make it harder for people like her to compete.
Instagram betting ads featuring Kane and Haaland banned
The advertising watchdog said the adverts featuring top footballers had a strong appeal to under-18s.
Post Office investigation could be delayed by five years, police warn
The commander leading the national police inquiry says the size of the investigation team would need to double in order to meet its current timeline
This beach hut costs the same as a three-bedroom house
A beach hut has gone on the market for £200,000 - the same price as some houses further along the Welsh coast.
Morocco wants tourists to visit Western Sahara. Some say it's tightening its control
The Moroccan government wants more Western holidaymakers to visit the territory it claims to own.
'Six eggs used to be £1' - why everyday essentials cost so much more now
Six supermarket brand eggs cost £1 in 2022. How much are they now, why have they gone up, and is anyone profiteering?
The Leeds designer outlet that's 15 miles from Leeds
A rebrand of the junction 32 retail park off the M62 has gone down poorly with some locals in Castleford.
Why are unpaid debt court cases rising?
Why are unpaid debt court cases rising?
Love factually: Dating start-ups promise to cut the cheats
Frustration with fake dating profiles has spurred new dating services with different approaches.
The fight against foreign developers buying Caribbean beaches
Campaigners in Barbuda, Grenada and Jamaica say they can no longer access their coastlines.
Robo-top: The machines that could make your next t-shirt
Most clothes are made in Asia, but new machines could bring some of that work back to the West.
Why does Amazon have no Western rivals?
The internet giant dwarfs other online retailers on both sides of the Atlantic.
Rise in solar panel sales as people 'want to save money'
One director, who has just bought 2,000 panels, hopes to safeguard the company's future bills.
Inside the secretive and lucrative world of orchid breeding
It can take a decade to bring a new orchid to market, so breeders keep their hi-tech processes secret.
Smart glasses are 'an invasion of privacy' - Meta's are selling better than ever
The biggest tech firms are set to sell millions of smart glasses despite growing privacy concerns.
The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?
Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like
Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?
The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high
Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
💬 Comments